The Denver Broncos’ performance against the Seattle Seahawks left much to be desired. However, three things provide a glimmer of hope as the Pittsburgh Steelers roll into the “Mile High City” for week two.
Bo Nix Under Fire, But Composed
Nix’s numbers weren’t good, even by rookie quarterback standards (26-42, 138 yards, and two interceptions). Denver Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton was quick to defuse the narrative, after the game, that Nix was in over his head. “I thought he was into it,” Payton said, “I never felt like it was too big or confusing. He was sharp. I thought he actually extended some plays with his feet. And again, we’ll look at the tape, but we have to be better around him.”
Payton is more concerned about the supporting cast, which some have said is at or near the bottom of the league in terms of talent than he is about his rookie quarterback. That is significant praise from a coach who’s seen plenty of top-tier quarterback play.
Special Teams
Special Teams, often overlooked, was one area where the Denver Broncos excelled. The Special Teams unit, led by Coach Ben Kotwica, had a great day against the Seahawks. Placekicker, Will Lutz, went 3/3 on field goals and consistently put Seattle’s offense in below-average field position (avg. return for 24.7 yards). Punter Riley Dixon did most of the damage.
He punted eight times with a 48.6-yard average. It wasn’t ideal that Dixon had to kick so often, but of those eight punts, four were inside the 20-yard line. The special teams unit has struggled for the past seven seasons but now seems to have found consistency in Lutz and Dixon.
Defensive Bright Spots
Seattle found success against the Denver Broncos defense early in the second half. They switched the momentum with a tempo offense that featured Kenneth Walker III running wild for most of the third quarter. Outside of the third quarter the Denver Broncos’ defensive line and linebackers were in the backfield and disrupting plays consistently.
Jonathan Cooper made an impact on the very first play of the game with a sack of Seattle Quarterback Geno Smith. On the next play, pressure nearly led to two consecutive sacks and ended with an interception by Alex Singleton. Although the Denver Broncos came up short there were some signs that the defense, if consistent and efficient, could be a strength for this young and inexperienced team.
Conclusion
The Denver Broncos have much to improve before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers. But it’s only the first game, and there’s no need to panic yet. This young team is showing potential in key areas, even after a tough loss.
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